Seattle moved closer to a professional hockey franchise with reports that that the National Hockey League’s commissioner made formal request to its Board of Governors to seek approval for a new franchise in the Emerald City.
Coming in the wake of the city’s new agreement for a plan to rebuild the former KeyArena, the league proposal will ask the owners to set a timeline for awarding the franchise — a $650 million asking price and the specific details about advance season-ticket deposits – which league officials see as a demonstration of the potential local fan base.
The proposal was offered at the annual NHL Board of Governors’ meeting in Florida.

Most likely they would have to buy-out the WHL Franchise so I don't see that happening. The Thunderbirds are a real team and they won the WHL last year.

When the Sounders were added to the MLS, they actually folded and then tried to go with another name; Seattle FC, Seattle Republic and Seattle Alliance. They let the fans vote and it was overwhelmingly for "Seattle Sounders" so they went with Sounder FC.